1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 2

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

ARTICLE 2:
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD

To purchase the Book, or for theological

inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com

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2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every gift
I have comes from you. Expand my
vision so that I can appreciate your
goodness in the world around me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life
and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God—
Father, Son, and Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 3. WHAT ARE THE FOUR PARTS
OF THE 2ND ARTICLE?

The 2nd Article of the

Creed is divided into
four parts:

1. Jesus Christ,
2. The Two Natures of
Jesus Christ,
3. The Name “Jesus,”
4. The Title “Christ.”

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 4. JESUS CHRIST:
Who is Jesus Christ?
 Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Blessed
Trinity, because he existed from eternity as God-
the-Son, in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
 He is also the Incarnated Son of God because he
became a man in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

The Sacrifice of Isaac.

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 5. JESUS CHRIST:
What are the Old Testament prophecies
concerning Jesus Christ?
GENESIS 3:15: The first ISAIAH 7:14: Prophet Isaiah
announcement of the coming of announced that the Messiah
Christ (Protoevangelium), was would be born of a Virgin
made by God to Adam and Eve. Mother.

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 6. JESUS CHRIST: :
What is the
Genealogy of Jesus?
 The Genealogy of the Family
Record of Jesus, beginning from
Adam and Eve to St. Joseph.
 The Genealogy demonstrates
that Jesus is the true Messiah,
being:
1) from the People of Israel;
2) From the Tribe of Judah;
3) From the Family of Jesse;
4) From the House of David.
 St. Joseph met all these
prophetic requirements, which
were legally acquired by his
adopted son.
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 7. THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS:
What are the two natures of Jesus Christ?
 Jesus Christ is one divine person with two natures: human and divine.
The hypostatic union of the two natures, declared by the Council of Ephesus
(431 AD) is beyond human comprehension and can be accepted only by faith.
 The Church requires the icons of Jesus to have a color coding: blue, the color
of heaven, to signify his divine nature; and red, the color of blood, to signify
his human nature.

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 8. THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS:
What are the proofs of the divine nature of Jesus?
 The Prologue of St. John: “In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
 Jesus’ answer to St. Philip: “Whoever has seen me has seen
the Father”(John 14:9).
 St. Thomas’
profession of
faith: “My Lord
and my God” (John
20:28). And Jesus
commented: “Have
you come to
believe because
you have seen me?
Blessed are those
who have not seen
and have believed”
(John 20:29).

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9. THE TWO NATURES
OF JESUS:
What are the proofs of the
human nature of Jesus?
 The incarnation in Mary’s
womb: The term
“incarnation” comes from the
Latin words in and carnem,
which literally means “to
enter into the flesh,” or “to
become a man.”
 The death of Jesus: The
ultimate demonstration of
the human nature of Christ is
his death on the cross,
because God cannot die; only
humans do.
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 10. THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS:
What are the Christological heresies?
1. Ebionism: They regarded Jesus as a man normally born of
Joseph and Mary.
2. Adoptionism: They considered him as a normal man, who was
adopted by God as his Son during the baptism at the Jordan.
3. Docetism: They considered Jesus as God, who seemed to be a
man; thus, his human appearance was merely a phantasm.
4. Arianism: They rejected the divine nature of Jesus and
considered him as a man.
5. Apollinarianism: They believed that the human nature of
Jesus was incomplete, consisting in a body without the rational
soul.
6. Nestorianism: They maintained that the two natures of Christ
remained separated, and were not united into one divine
person.
7. Monophysitism: They asserted that the human nature of
Jesus was completely absorbed by his divine nature.

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 11. THE NAME “JESUS”:
What is the meaning of the name “Jesus”?
 Jesus is a Hebrew name which
means God Saves, because
his mission was to save
mankind.
 The original Hebrew name
Yehosua, which literally
means “Yahweh Saves,” was
translated:
Yeshua in Aramaic;
Iesous in Greek;
Iesus in Latin;
Jesus in English;
Hesus in Tagalog;
Gesù in Italian;
Jesús in Spanish.
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 12. THE NAME “JESUS”:
Why do we celebrate the name of Jesus?
 In order to be saved we must
believe in the name of Jesus, and
all liturgical prayers conclude with
the words: “Through our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
 We celebrate the feast of the Holy
Name of Jesus on January 3.
 The greatest promoter of the Holy
Name of Jesus was St. Bernardine
of Siena, who coined the
Christogram “IHS,” which stands
for Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus
Savior of Men). The devotion to
the Holy Name became so popular
that the IHS was often inscribed in
churches, liturgical vestments, and
on the Eucharistic bread.

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 13. THE NAME “JESUS”:
Do biblical names have meaning?
In the Bible, a name identifies a person’s character and
mission. It is important to give Christian names to our
children, so that they may find guidance in life.
1. Lucifer: Bearer of Light;
2. Michael: Who-Is-Like-God;
3. Raphael: Medicine-of-God;
4. Gabriel: Power-of-God;
5. Adam: Earth;
6. Eve: Mother of the Living;
7. Abraham: Father of a Multitude;
8. Isaac: Laughter;
9. Jacob: Supplanter;
10.Israel: Strong with God;
11.John: God is Gracious;
The naming of Jesus
12.Miriam: Princess.
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 14. THE NAME “JESUS”:
Why do the Popes and some religious
change their name?
 The newly elected Pope
chooses a name which signifies
his personality and spirituality.
The practice was established
by Jesus who changed Simon’s
name into Peter.
 Some religious change their
name to signify their new life
totally dedicated to Christ;
others retain their baptismal
name, to emphasize that
religious life is the fulfillment
of their Baptism.
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 15. THE TITLE “CHRIST”:
What is the meaning of the title “Christ”?

 The title Christ, which is

the Greek translation of
the Hebrew word
Messiah, means anointed.
 Christ is not the family
name of Jesus, but a title
which identifies his
mission. Thus, the
expression Jesus Christ is
a profession of faith,
meaning: “Jesus is the
Christ.”
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 16. THE TITLE “CHRIST”:
Why majority of the Jews do not believe
that Jesus is the Christ?
 Although Jesus was a Jew,
majority of his countrymen did
not believe in him, as he
prophesized: “No prophet is
accepted in his own country”
(Luke 2:24).
 They were expecting a glorious
Messiah, and instead they got a
poor man, “the son of the
carpenter” (Matthew 13:55).
 The Jews are still waiting for the
arrival of their Messiah, but all
the claimants died without a
trace.
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17. THE TITLE “CHRIST”: Why is the Christ
the ultimate Prophet, King, and Priest?
The Old Testament prophets,
kings, and priests, were
instituted by anointing,
prefiguring the ultimate
“anointed:” the Messiah – who is:

1. The Greatest Prophet,

because announces and fulfills
the Word of God.
2. The Universal King, because
all power and glory belong to
him.
3. The Highest Priest, because
his sacrifice on the Cross
completes and fulfills all
others.
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 18. THE TITLE “CHRIST”:
What are the other titles of Jesus Christ?
 The Son of God: because he is the
second person of the Blessed Trinity.
 The Lord: because he is God – since
Lord (English), Kyrios (Greek),
Dominus (Latin) is the Translation of
the Hebrew name Yahweh.
 The Immanuel: since, with his
incarnation, he became God-Is-With-
Us.
 The Redeemer: because he paid for
us the debt due for our sins.
 The Pantocrator: a Greek title which
means All-Powerful, because all power
was given to him.
 The King of the Universe: because
he is the Alpha and Omega of creation,
and all in heaven and earth belongs to
him.

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